Speakeasies.
Because it was so widely unpopular and widely violated, there was great demand for illegal liquor and alcoholic products which organized (and unorganized) criminals rushed to fill. Massive enforcement activities were marshaled both to stem the flow of illegal alcohol AND enforce the laws against manufacturing, possessing, and consuming it.
The 66th United States Congress passed the Volstead Act October 28, 1919. It was first introduced in the House by Andrew Volstead.
The cast of Portrait of a Hitman - 1979 includes: Philip Ahn as Wong Conrad Bachmann as George John Dresden as Volsted Carla Haley as Della Herb Jeffries as Charlie Blue Helen Kelly as Woman at the Art Show Gloria Lynn Dyer as Nurse Grogg Ed Ness as Captain Ned Jack Palance as Jim Buck Monica Peterson as Mrs. Roberts Alice Reinheart as Art Patron Michael Rougas as Art critic Richard Roundtree as Coco Morrell Scotty Sachs as Punk in Alley Robert Starks as Louie Rod Steiger as Max Andreotti Bo Svenson as Dr. Bob Michaels Garrison True as Joe Ann Turkel as Cathey
John Dresden has: Played Security Guard in "General Hospital" in 1963. Played Kovic in "Barnaby Jones" in 1973. Played Butler in "Police Story" in 1973. Played Second Man in "The Next Step Beyond" in 1978. Played 1st Surveillance Officer in "The Two-Five" in 1978. Played Policeman in "The Dark" in 1979. Played Volsted in "Portrait of a Hitman" in 1979. Played Airport Security in "Dynasty" in 1981. Played John Taylor in "Raw Force" in 1982. Played Biker in "The A-Team" in 1983. Played Bartender in "Two of a Kind" in 1983. Played Gerard in "Hunter" in 1984. Played Slater in "Final Mission" in 1984. Played Bertram in "Mike Hammer" in 1984. Played Harry Cotter in "No Dead Heroes" in 1986. Played Pilot in "Commando Squad" in 1987. Played Aaron McClatchie in "Big Bad Mama II" in 1987. Played San Francisco Cop in "Catch the Heat" in 1987.